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Ashton CourtAshton Court is a mansion house and estate to the west of Bristol in England. Although the estate lies mainly in North Somerset, it is owned by the City of Bristol. The estate is a venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the Ashton Court festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. The core of the house was built in the 15th century, but it was enlarged and adapted over the centuries by the Smyth family, who bought the estate in 1545. The south facade dates from about 1633 and was extended eastwards in the 19th century. The house became derelict after the last of the Smyths died in 1946; it was taken over by the City in 1959, and restoration has been an ongoing process since then. The facilities of the house are now rented out for business conferences, parties and weddings. The estate covers 850 acres (3.4 km²) of woods and open grassland. It includes two pitch-and-putt golf courses, an orienteering course and horse riding and mountain bike trails. There is a deer park and a great variety of wildlife; much of the site is notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the presence of rare woodland beetles. External links http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/outdoorlife/ashton_court_estate_gen.html
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